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CORA (Commercial Ocean Recreational Activity) Update

May 26th, Pam spent the day with CORA (Commercial Ocean Recreational Activity) operators at the County Council's First Reading of the Budget where a 600% hike in their permit fees was slated. This would increase each $500 permit to $3,000 and be devastating to many companies. We worked with this group to inform Council Members of CORA permit holders' concerns and helped educate the public of this harsh proposal. All business we spoke with said a 600% increase, without warning, and without first talking with the industry was wrong. As did the State's Small Business Regulatory Review Board. The industry did come together and felt some increase was reasonable, but not the proposal. They sought a deferral or greatly reduced amount, which they received with a reduced amount from Council Member Mike Victorino. He requested the fees be $1,000 each for the first two permits only and then all additional permits would remain at the current level of $500. All agreed and it passed. So that was a tremendous win for the industry who still has other State permitting hurdles coming down the pike.